Under the provisions of M.G.L. Ch 30A and pursuant to the authority found in M.G.L. Ch. 130 ss. 17A Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) and the Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission (MFAC) have scheduled a hearing to accept comments on DMF proposals to enact as final recent emergency regulations governing the horseshoe crab fishery (322 CMR 6.34), including:

1. a moratorium on issuance of new permits authorizing the harvest of horseshoe crabs;
2. a 165,000-crab quota for the Commonwealth’s horseshoe crab fishery;
3. a 400-crab daily possession limit; and
4. a temporary closure of the fishery on July 1 to allow accounting of landings to determine catch levels.

A public hearing has been scheduled for 1PM on:
Friday, May 2, 2008 at the Best Western Bridge-Bourne Hotel (100 Trowbridge Road , Bourne).

Comments received by e-mail (marine.fish@state.ma.us), fax (617.626.1509), or mail (251 Causeway St., Suite 400;
Boston, MA 02114) will be accepted until 5PM on Friday, May 2, 2008.

Contact DMF for regulations and further details or visit our website at www.mass.gov/marinefisheries.